Developers who use any of nine architecturally designed patterns for mid-rise apartment projects in New South Wales will be able to access faster approvals as the state government seeks to ramp up new housing delivery.

(above image: Andrew Burges)

The New South Wales Government had added nine new mid-rise apartment building patterns to the NSW Housing Pattern Book.The patterns cover designs for apartments which range from three to six-stories in height.

They follow eight low-rise housing patterns that were released in July.

(image: Bennett and Trimble)

The release comes as New South Wales hopes to deliver 112,000 new mid-rise homes in 171 nominated areas over the five years to 1 July 2029 under the state’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.

The policy is part of the state’s commitment to delivering 377,000 new homes overall during the period under the National Housing Accord.

As part of the policy, the NSW Pattern Book aims to help streamline planning approval processes whilst delivering good housing outcomes.

The book contains a series of flexible and customisable plans which have been architecturally designed to deliver high standards in terms of quality, amenity, sustainability and accessibility.

Projects which adopt these patterns still require planning approval.

However, the Government has reduced assessment requirements by providing guidance to councils that will allow them to halve the average assessment times for these patterns.

Assessment timeframes will be further shortened next year as recently legislated planning reforms create a new targeted assessment pathway that will deliver expediated planning assessment decisions.

Projects which adopt the planning book will be prioritised for access to the new pathway.

(image: Nguluway Design Inc.)

The nine new patterns have been designed by leading architectural firms from Australia and New Zealand.

This includes Andrew Burges, Bennett and Trimble, Collins and Turner, MHN, Neeson Murcutt Neille, Nguluway Design, Silvester Fuller, Spacecraft, Tonkin Zulaikha.

The patterns offer options for small, large and corner lots.

In terms of design, the patterns:

• Maximise energy performance and thermal comfort. They are light-filled, cross ventilated, all-electric and designed to maximise solar access.
• Offer flexible layouts. The patterns are highly customisable and cand be adapted to suit different lifestyle preferences, sites and climate zones.
• Have been designed to meet the Australian Building Codes Board Liveable Housing Design Standard and aim to support housing needs at every stage in life.
• Are designed to be cost effective and to enable ease of construction.

The mid-rise pattern book will apply to the 171 low and mid-rise housing areas which have been nominated for application of the low and mid-rise housing policy.

The book will apply to any area which is located within 800m of the 171 nominated centres, provided that the land is zoned R3 or R4.

It can also be used in other locations where the land is zoned R3 or R4, but only up to the height and density planning controls contained in the Local Environment Plan (LEP) or relevant SEPP.

NSW Premier Chris Minns welcomed the release of the new patterns.

“The new housing patterns are more than designs for beautiful homes,” Minns said.

“They are a practical way we are delivering more homes for young people and families across New South Wales.”

Property industry lobby groups welcomed the release of the designs.

“This new set of pattern books puts flesh on the bones of the Government’s mid-rise housing policy,” Tom Forrest, CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia said.

“This builds on the low-rise patterns that were launched in mid-July.”

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